EU Launches Three Market Probes Into Cloud Services by Amazon & Microsoft

The European Commission (EC) has launched three separate market investigations into cloud‑computing services offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), signaling a stricter regulatory push into the tech giants’ dominance in the cloud sector. Two of the probes will evaluate whether AWS and Microsoft Azure should be designated as “gatekeepers” under the DMA—bringing them under additional obligations to foster competition—while a third investigation aims to assess whether the DMA’s existing rules are equipped to handle anticompetitive practices in the fast‑evolving cloud market. AWS remains the world’s largest cloud provider, followed by Microsoft’s Azure, making these investigations significant for how tech power is managed in Europe. According to EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera, the Commission will also determine whether the DMA itself needs updating to keep pace with the rapid changes in cloud‑computing practices. Should the investigations find that either company qualifies as a gatekeeper, they would face new obligations—such as enabling interoperability with rival services—and be subject to possible fines of up to 10 % of annual global turnover for DMA violations. The EC plans to conclude the investigations within 12 months. Microsoft has stated it is “ready to contribute” to the enquiry, while AWS has cautioned that classifying cloud‑providers as gatekeepers could stifle innovation and raise costs for European companies. #TechRegulation #CloudCompetition #BigTechEU #DigitalMarketsAct #SlimScan #GrowthStocks #CANSLIM